Alright so I purposefully waited to write my post AFTER the 5k run... I was running the risk of not getting my post in on time though if I accidentally tripped and fell and broke my skull open or something (knowing how clumsy I am I wouldn't be surprised), but I guess it was worth it.
The reason I waited until now was because it was the last 5k I'd be running for a grade (I think I passed?) -- I thought it would align well with Taylor wrapping up his era in Black Swan Green. Difference is, Taylor's crying while his sister comforts him and talks about a bright future, while my legs are just like "thank god this is over". Ah who am I kidding I'm gonna end up training for a Spartan race because I'm a boosted bonobo --
Well anyways the main point I want to draw out of this post kinda came to me in class while I was listening to our conversation yesterday. As I sat there listening (yea in class I kind of noticed that I just don't talk so much anymore... not so sure why but for those who like to hear my voice sorry about that and for those who find my voice annoying then lol your welcome?), I noticed how everyone related with Taylor doing one thing and thinking another. Don't get me wrong I totally relate too, but something in the back of my head was bugging me -- I knew someone, SOMEONE wouldn't approve of how Taylor acts and how we relate to him. Someone that as a class, we all agreed that we also relate to. Ah that's right -- Holden'll totally call us phony f**ks by now (lol we can kiss "being his buddy" in Catcher goodbye).
I find it fascinating how everyone in our class totally relates to both Holden and Taylor, though they think and act in totally different ways. That isn't to say that Taylor is a complete poser and Holden is the male version of Veritas, but I think we can all agree that they act quite differently (again, Taylor becomes more and more transparent as he reaches the age of 14, but you get the point).
I guess the main question now is: who do we align with more? Taylor or Holden? Personally, I always thought that Holden was my go-to man to rant because we think the same way, but now I think Taylor would be a better listener. Yes this has to do with Holden judging almost everyone he sees by instinct, but Taylor is also just... more relatable. I mean yea he acts/pretends sometimes but he fills us in and to be honest we have all been phony at some point in time to avoid conflicts. Jason's flaws are also more relatable, vs. Holden who just kind of hates the world (and while some of us would say that we hate the world, I seriously doubt that any of us ACTUALLY does so throughly (and ok yes Holden also doesn't hate the world completely but he certainly does hate most of it)).
Also I feel like... Taylor is easier to talk to. Again, you don't have to be worried about being judged, and as we learn from his conversations with Moran, he can be quite the good listener. Well anyways that's my little blurb. Tell me who you align with more!
I definitely think Jason is a more relatable narrator. Although some of Holden's critiques make sense and we can appreciate how much he dislikes superficiality, Jason grows as a narrator to better express his inner voice. Jason seems more real because although he censors himself, he realizes the thoughts he communicates are channelled by peer pressure. Holden made me feel more like he can say anything he wants, but everyone else is flawed.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, didn't quite think to compare Jason and Holden in terms of phony-ness. I'd say I relate to Jason more on terms of both not wanting to say all of my thoughts out loud and well, I just felt Jason was a bit friendlier than Holden. Like Alyssa said, Jason just feels more real with how he edits himself and responds to situations in a way that seems natural.
ReplyDeleteAlong with Alyssa, I'd definitely say Jason is way more relatable. I'd feel comfortable with telling Jason my secrets and worries. However, if I wanted advice or someone to rant to, I'd go to Holden just because he tends to have some interesting comebacks and responses.
ReplyDeleteHolden just seems annoying to me, he never wants to talk, but if I actually got close to Jason, we could have long deep conversations and appreciate things. To me, Holden lives in the past (from what we've read), while Jason recognizes the importance of looking forward.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you bring up this comparison as Black Swan Green has been referred to as a sort of modern Catcher in the Rye. I would definitely agree that Jason is a more relatable character as his struggles with self editing and fitting in seem much more relevant in our generation.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool question!! Damn Anthony you should talk in class more!! I am struggling to answer, honestly -- I think both characters are explorations of very different parts of everyone's personalities. Also, Holden has gone through some major traumas (when he was about 14, right?) and by the end of the novel we see Jason also getting himself through some hardships and learning to sort of cut out all the poser shit as a result like, he learns what to value and what to push aside. I think it's also compelling to think about the fact that Holden loves chronically lying, right, and that can, in a lot of ways, be read as a performance in the same way Jason performs throughout this novel (?) They both know themselves deep down, as we see, and Holden admittedly performs for a different reason, but he's still hiding behind these characters as a way to avoid people knowing about his real anxieties, his real thoughts, his real personality in general. IDK, this is such a good point! nice job!!
ReplyDeleteThis comparison between Holden and Jason is something I briefly though about when we were first introduced to the creative project, however you dug into it much more deeply. Holden would definitely call Jason phony, but as you point out, in reality everyone is like Jason in some way. Even Holden's attitude towards phonies could be an act put on to look cool to the reader.
ReplyDeleteThese are two such contradicting characters, but I feel like almost anyone could find a way to relate with them both. IMO, Jason would think Holden's the shit and Holden would think Jason's phony af. Personally, I'd say I can relate to Holden more in the ways that he just does what he wants and doesn't really care about what ppl think of him. But younger me basically embodied Jason, so it's really a tossup. It's super cool and confusing to think about, really.
ReplyDeleteI really liked both Holden and Jason as narrators. They are different but they both struggle a lot with identity and figuring out who they are in relation to the world. Although I agree they're different, I think the way the reader connects to them is somewhat similar.
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